2024 Breakout Stars: Defensive Lineman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These four defensive linemen decimate the opposition with their ability to wreck plays on all four downs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875518' first='Ikaika' last='Kaufusi'] || DL || 6'0 || 215 || Canyon View High School</strong> <strong>|| 2024</strong><br>Kaufusi can stop the run or rush the passer playing on the interior or edge. He possesses excellent playing strength and quickly reacts to plays. Kaufusi does a great job keeping a low pad leveling, helping him to gain and maintain leverage against offensive linemen. He can go through or around blockers on his way to quarterbacks. Kaufusi has a great motor and never gives up in his pursuit of signal callers. He has quick hands and feet that help him bring down backs behind the line of scrimmage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875523' first='Charles' last='Bytyqi'] || DL || 5'11 || 215 || Woods Cross High School || 2024</strong><br>Bytyqi has been making noise in the offseason. His speed off the snap has helped him win one-on-one reps consistently. Bytyqi is a sensational pass rusher with an array of moves he uses to beat offensive linemen. He has a strong rip move where he does an excellent job of going through offensive linemen's arms before leaning into their chest so they can't reset their punch. Bytyqi also does a great job recognizing when an offensive lineman is oversetting and can quickly shoot through inside gaps to get the sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='684165' first='Zion' last='Kongaika'] || DT || 5'10 || 280 || American Fork High School || 2024</strong><br>Kongaika is a tough, physical defensive tackle who brings the same tenacity to every snap. He does an excellent job taking on double teams where he gives little to no ground and frees up his teammates to make plays. Kongaika moves well laterally when engaged with offensive linemen. He fires off the snap low and can stand up offensive linemen to plug rushing lanes. Kongaika does a good job shedding blocks when running backs are within his reach, and he does a good job wrapping up when bringing them down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875580' first='Gabe' last='Johnson'] || DL || 6'1 || 200 || Olympus High School || 2024</strong><br>Johnson does a good job setting the edge for the Titans. He quickly gets to the outside shoulder of offensive linemen and turns them back inside. Johnson does a good job getting dipping through offensive linemen on inside runs to bring down running backs. He's a fluid athlete with exceptional bend around the edge. Johnson can take on pullers to create pile-ups in the backfilled, or he can get around them and make plays on running backs in space. Look out for Johnson to have another outstanding season with Olympus. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->